Sorry for the long due. My computer broke down, my study needs catching up.. bla bla.. you know life… well, enjoy and please review. Means a lot to me.
FORCED
CHAPTER 7: THE TALK
After Hinata had treated Neji with his wound, they walked back together. It was quite a long walk and Hinata insisted Neji spent the night at the hospital but Neji refused. He said the wound wasn't so bad and sleeping in his own house is better than sleeping in the hospital. The road was lighted by the light of the full moon. They walked slowly, side by side, not to close yet not too far. Hinata felt so comfortable. The silence that enveloped them wasn't the awkward silence, it was the warm silence. Sometimes, their eyes met and they would exchanged soft smile.
Finally, Neji broke the silence. " Hinata, what do you think of the marriage? Our marriage," eyes fixed to the front. Hinata looked up and saw that Neji wasn't looking at her. " Um… at first I was shocked cause I never expected that kind of thing to happen…" " What kind of thing? A main family member marries a branch family member," Neji replied with quite harsh. He became very sensitive when it comes to the main and branch family issues. Hinata nodded slowly, still looking the ground. " A useless ninja like me marries a genius like you. The fact I'm married to somebody is unbelievable as it it…," Hinata voice slowed. Neji was taken aback. He stopped walking and Hinata stopped too. " You shouldn'r say things like that about yourself like that , Hinata…," Neji tried to comfort her. Hinata looked up and give him a soft but a yet a very sad smile. " That's the truth right. Even you said that last time," she mumbled and started walking again.
Neji was stupefied at the place he was standing. Hinata's words stabbed his heart like thousands daggers. " Hinata….," Neji called. Hinata stopped and turned slowly. She saw Neji still standing at the place, looking down. " I treid to hurt.. no kill you. That's a fact, No one can change that, even me. I looked down on you, I insulted you. But that was then, this is now. My perception and feelings towards you had changed. I know I never apologized about what I did to you. It is because I'm afraid that you won't forgive me. But I think you should know that everything had changed. I'm not the sour Neji I used to be. I've changed and I thought you knew…," his voice trailed off.
" I can feel it, Neji-niisan. I can feel it that you've changed. But feeling and knowing is not the same. You will have confidence after knowing but not by just feeling it." They stood there looking at each other from distance. Hinata smiled. " But now I know. That's what important right? And I want you to know too. I NEVER held any grudge against you." Neji nodded, " I know that, Hinata-sama. You're too nice to hold grudge against anyone. Even if the person tries to kill you…"
A heavy silence felt upon them. " Like you said, that was then, this is now. Let's start fresh, both of us….," Hinata suggested shyly. Neji smiled and walked towards her. " Oh, you can begin by calling me Hinata." " But I already called you 'Hinata' in the emergency room." Hinata tilted her head, thinking. " Me too…". They smiled to each other and walked together under the moonlight.